Kiltartan


Kiltartan is a barony and civil parish in County Galway, Ireland. The southern portion of this barony was formerly known as Cenél Áeda [na hEchtge] or O'Shaughnessy's Country, the northern portion was called Coill [Ua bhFiachrach] and the eastern part was called Oireacht Réamoinn. It was the home of Lady Gregory, Edward Martyn, and a regular residence of W. B. Yeats. The barony takes its name from the Burke stronghold of Kiltartan Castle also known as Castletown or Ballycastle. The castle in turn takes its name from the medieval church of Kiltartan a short distance to the north. The old Irish name for the church and parish was Cill Athrachta which was corrupted to Cill Tortain. The older anglicised form was Kiltaraght which is closer to the original Irish form.
It is referenced in Yeats's poem "An Irish [Airman Foresees His Death]".